Laminate these, place a number on the baby ducks 1-5, and stick magnet tape on the back of them (or not if you just want to lay these out on a table or the floor). You want your child to lay these out in order, so either tell them to pick up the “blue” one (my number 1 was blue) and put it in the proper position, or if your child is beginning to recognize numbers you can tell them to pick up number 1, and put it in the proper position.

As you get to the end of the verse, say, “Take away number 5,” then recount the remaining baby ducks out loud, and then sing the verse from the beginning with the new number.

Over the hills and far away,

Mama Duck said “Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack . . .

But only 4 little ducks came back.

(Go back to the first verse and drop the number by one for the first and last verse, removing the highest numbered duck each time.)

Here is the ASL to go with key words in the song. You can cut these out and stick them to the surface you’re putting your duck printables on so you’ll have easy hands-free access to them while you’re working through the song. Just click on the graphic and print.

If these signs are new to you, remember to use the free ASL dictionaries at www.babysignlanguage.com or www.lifeprint.com to make sure you understand the correct sign and then use these graphics as a reminder or prompt.

An extradorinary little boy, the ordinary people who love him, and their journey together through the world of visual learning and speech acquisition. (And in my "free time," vintage crochet, machine embroidery, digitizing and Etsy.)

Don't let the textbooks fool ya; little boys with Down syndrome are VERY clever!!!!

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:14)